dseah@wpi.wpi.edu (David I Seah) (06/09/89)
Howdy! We are planning to design and build a graphics board for the IBM-PC AT to do high speed solid-filled animation, tentatively using the TMS34010 graphics coprocessor and ADSP2100 digital signal processor. This board will fulfill part of our school's graduation requirements and hopefully supply a low-cost, but powerful graphics setup for modelling robot arms. Unfortunately, we only have some sketchy documentation on building IBM-PC interfaces from our 16bit microprocessors course. Where can we find: 1) Tech notes on building a 16-bit board for a PC-AT? Something that would point out potential pitfalls in design would be ideal. 2) Technical info on VGA boards. If possible, we might just interface our board somehow to VGA screen buffers and forget about designing a graphics board. 3) The Definitive Guide to Assembly Language Programming under MS-DOS. Local bookstores carry the "Everything About Using MSDOS...Again" type of books. We will have to get a store to order books for us. 4) Recommendations for texts on designing video displays at the basic level. 5) Names of companies that make high-power graphics boards for the IBM-PC, so we can see what's already out there. We know several use the TMS34010 in some way; we're interested in what they use it for. 6) 3-D modelling/animation/raytracing software for VGA based PCs. We haven't gotten the PC yet, but we'd like to know what kind of stuff is availiable so we can see what sort of features we will need to support in hardware. 7) Recommendations on how to prototype IBM PC interface cards, some tips on avoiding noise, experiences, funny jokes, and other stories from you engineering veterans. We are poor students who have burn ourselves more times than we make a good solder joint. Of course, I'll post a summary of the info I get back on comp.sys.ibm.pc for your continued enjoyment! :-) Dave Seah (dseah@wpi.wpi.edu, dseah@wpi.bitnet) The Twinkie & Banana Club - MA